New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-24
MIR. FRAYNE WOUNDED BY A LION.
ONE OF HIS WILD BEASTS KILLS A HORSE

THE ANIMAL ESCAPES FROM THE CAGE AT THE
ACToR's FARM NEAR MADISON, N. J.
Frank l. Frayne. the well-kuown firearms and wild
beast variety specialist. had a narrow escape last
week from being cawed to pieces by his favorite
stage lion Robert Ingersol. Mr.. Frayne has coun-
try place called Echo Dell about three miles from
Madison, a village near Morristown, N. j., on the
Morris and Essex Division of the Delaw are, LacSa
wanna and Western Railroad. Here he spends his
summer and keeps his little menagerie while 1t is of
duty in his sensational play Mardo.' Mr.. Fraynes
season on the road closed this year about three
weeks ago. and the little colony had got pretty well
settled at the Echo Dell farm-except for the two
hyenas which were bowling and barking at nights
before the accident TOOK place.
Mr. and Mra. Frame, Mr.. Fraynes aunt and daugh-
ter Fred" Knight the head trainer and keeper, and
young colored boy in the Mardo" company. were
quurtered in the farm house The big lion, Robert
lngersol tine two hyenas, two trained horses, pow
and lots of rabbits were in the barn, about hfty
yards o ne ar the main road, big bear chained
TO a cherry tree outside the barn and lttle bear
suffering with lung trouble and bad cough, was
tied to the road Three or tour dogs-a trained
bull dog, aud a mlstih among thcm -roamed about
the front yard
Early on Monday morning. May 49, tho actor was
awakened by Quick succession OF yells roarngs and
hgh-keycd neif hngs from the barn. Tho hyenas
were letting their lungs out more blood -curdling!y
than ever the big ! ion was believing vi unusua
fury; the horses whinnying pteously with
fear. Dressing quickly, Mr. Frayne rushed down
across the yard to the stables The two bears were
tugging ercely at their chains outside. TIE yes in
side grew more piercing every second.
The actor, in his shirt sleeves and stocking eet
pulled OF the sliding barn doors aside and stopped
In The stable is divided into two Of stalls with
a threshing floor between them. In the three stalls
on one .side Mr.. Fraynes trained hOrsJ Boli-
var" a trained Kentucky colt. used by Miss rrayne.
and an ordinary plough horse. Across the threshing
floor we're the cages OF the wild beasts But the lions
cage was empty and the big barred front was lying
half tipped over pile OF boards on the main floor.
The lion was crouchng behing the manger OF the
trained horse Bolivar. and was lust sprnging as the
door opened. In secULd he had crunched the horse
neck and the poor beast fell still neghing and snort
ing in agony, on the stall floor The lion sank his
jiws again in the mangled flesh and was about to tear
the aLiverng animal 10 pieces when the actor struck
him smart blow with stick across the back. Mr..
Fraynehad seen his favorite pet kill two in fits
of insubordinaion, and he knew at once that only .
quick stroke would save his own lie now lie could
not we'll back out either. Tor the lions appetite once
whetted with blood. his escape would play havoc
with the country round
The actor had picked up stout rope with slip
moose, like n lasso. and the lion turned quickly
after the blow the was thrown eleverly about
his necK. Then with good deal OF rope slack the
trainer ran the far end around bar OF the cage door
and ,ulled The lion was startled aud halt cowed at
frat at the sight OF his trainer aud master lie ioi
lowed the pull OF the rope mechanically across the
threshing floor iutO the cage. The whole face OF the
cage still lying Iropped against the pile OF lumber
at one end II had fallen irom two OF It's three
hinges at the other end aud was almost nat Gown on
the floor there.
Mr.. Fray ne lifted the the lion crossed ana
tried catch them AZ ain on their hinges The hon
glared at him sulienly Tor second or two, t the
front was nearly up and then made spring. IL va.
too late, however. The hinge was caught, an d
the actor succeeded fastening the others The en-.
ragged beast slipped of. Then he jumped again aud
olawing blndy through the bars, canght Mr. Ffayne
lett arm Four OF the claws stuck in. most OF them
about an inch deep. The blood tricked down the
shirt sleeve soaking it. But the actor got away with
out any more serious hurts.
The whole thing qu cKly That even Chief
Keeper Knight had not time TO reach tho barn. The
wounded actors dressed, and strict instruc-
ons wcie given 10 keep the matter secret Tor tear OF
alarming the neighborhood. Last Monday night Mr..
Frayne lett Madison for Mt Clemens, and nothing
has been eeen OF him near Mnrrstown since. His arm
Is doing we'll however His wife said yesterday that
the wounds only flesh cnes ana that they had
almost healed NJ. Tho horse died soon alter the
encounter Tho lion has been ugly and sulky ever
since His cage will be patched up strongly against
any further outbreaks. lie has n bullet wound now
in his head from the last OF his neang exploits in
Mex CO.
| Mr. Fraync II will be remembered shot enc OF his
niecrs accidentally while doing sort OF William Tel
rifle act IN Cncinnad some years ago.